Compound steam-turbine.



PATENTE D SEPT. 12, 1905.

G. V. KERR.

COMPOUND STEAM TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. ze,1ao4.

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G. V. KERR.

COMPOUND STEAM TURBINE.

APPLICATION TILED SEPT. 26.1904- 2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

( arZes [/frzr UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES V. KERR, OF WELLSVILLE, NElV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO KERR TURBINECOMPANY, OF WELLSVILLE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEXV YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1905.

Application filed September 26,1904. Serial No. 225,946.

To [all 111710711 if TIMI/.7] concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES V. KERR, a citizen of the United States,residing at *ellsville, in the county of Allegany and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compound Steam-Turbines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to compound steamturbines, known more especially asthe helical or screw type.

The objects of my invention are, first, to construct a steam-turbine ofcompact form and small horse-power which will be particularly welladapted for generating electric current for locomotive-headlights or thelike; second, to provide means with my form of turbine constructionwhereby the engine may be quickly and efliciently reversed; third, to soconstruct the casing, the steam-chest, nozzle-ring, and the rotatingmember of the turbine whereby the same may be quickly and easilyassembled or repaired; fourth. other evident advantages and features ofthe specific construction and arrangement of the parts, which willhereinafter appear from the detailed description of the engine andmanner of using the same.

My invention consists of structural features and relative arrangementsof elements, which will be hereinafter more fully and clearly described,and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the two sheets of drawings, in which similar referencecharacters indicate the same parts in the several figures, Figure 1 is alongitudinal section of my invention as applied to a single-cylinderconstruction. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of my invention asapplied to an engine of the reversible type. Fig. 3 is an enlarged viewof one of the baffle pins or posts in the spiral passage around therotary drum. Fig. at is a transverse section of the baffle-pin on line 66 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section on line 7 7 of Fig. e. Fig. 6 is anenlarged View of a modified form of batlie-post. Fig. 7 is a top view ofFig. 6. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary and sectional view of the ring providedwith the nozzle-openings for leading the steam from the chest againstthe battle-posts in the spiral passage of the rotating drum.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 1 represents thecylinder of the engine, having an internal bore corresponding to thefrustum of a cone. 2 and 3 are the heads, respectively, of the largerand smaller ends of the cylinder. The head 3 is provided with asteam-chest 9. to which is connected a pipe 10, leading to a boiler orother source of suitable motive agent. The other head 9. is providedwith an outlet 11 for the exhaust of the motive agent.

In the heads 2 and 3 is journaled by any suitable bearings a shaft at,having secured thereto a rotary piston or cylindrical drum 5. 6 6 arethe ends of the drum. Extending from and connected to the outer side ofthe cylindrical drum 5 is a helical rib 7 of gradually-increasing widthfrom the steam-chest end 3 to the exhaust end 2, so as to form with theinterior wall of the cylinder 1 and the outer wall of the drum 5 ahelical passage of grad uall y-increasing depth and corresponding to theexpanding or variable internal bore of the cylinder.

8 8 (see Figs. 5 7) are a plurality of baffle pins or posts secured tothe outer wall of the rotary drum or piston and in the spiral passagesand of gradually-increasing height corresponding to the increased heightof the spiral passage from the steam-chest to the eX- haust end. Saidbafiie pins or posts (see Figs. 34) are preferably formed with a shank12, having an extension or plate 13, which has a circular flange at itsbottom and gradually increases in size toward its outer end and lunatein cross-section, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. 'hile I haveparticularly described and specifically shown them as lunate incross-section, they may be solid or circular. The pins or baffle-postsare fastened to the rotary piston or drum 5 (see Fig. 6) by being fittedor seated by means of the flange 15 in properly spaced and arrangedopenings 1 1 in the drum and helical passage. The outer ends of theshanks 12 are upset against the inner wall of the piston or rotary drum5, thereby affording a cheap and secure means of fastening.

16 is a nozzle-ring, and consists of an annular ring (see Figs. 1, 2)firmly held between the smaller end of the cylinder 1 and the inner endof the smaller head 3 and provided (see Fig. 8) with openings 17 andinclined reduced passages 18, which are connected with the interior ofthe steam-chest 9, the function and operation of which will behereinafter described.

In Fig. l I have shown my invention of a compound steam-turbine providedwith baffleposts in a helical passage of increasing diameter as appliedto a single cylinder.

In Fig. 2 I have provided means for reversing the engine and whichcomprises two engines similar in construction, as shown and described inconnection with the single cylinder, (see Fig. 1,) in which theirexhaust ends are connected to a common exhaust-chamber which is providedwith a partition 38 and a common exhaust-pipe 11. 39 39 are branch pipesleading from the steam-chests at the outer ends of the engine to athree-way valve 40, which controls the live steam in pipe 41 to eithersteam-chest at the ends of the engine.

The operation of the device is as follows: Referring more particularlyto Fig. 1, thelive steam or other expansible fluid enters thesteam-chest 9 through the pipe 10 into and through a nozzle-ring 16, or,if so desired, directly into the gradually-expanding helical passage ofthe rotary piston and against the baffleposts therein. The steam inpassing through the helical passage with a great velocity impingesagainst the baffle-posts and thereby rotates the piston or drum and theshaft attached thereto, from which by means of gearing or otherwisepower may be transmitted. The expansion of the steam is'provided for bythe graduall y-increasing diameter of the helical passage. The steamafter passing through the helical passage enters the chamber at thelargerend of the cylinder-casing and by means of the connectedexhaustpipe to the outside air or condenser.

Fig. 2 is an arrangement of the same specific construction of rotarymotor as adapted to a reversible type. In this form the motive fluid ispassed either to the right or left cylinder by means of the three-wayvalve, and the other cylinder runs idle in a chamber of reduced pressureor resistance if connected to a vacuum.

Various changes may be made in the details of my invention and the formof the cylinder and its cooperating rotary piston in order to provide agradually-increasing chamber between the inner wall of the cylinder andthe outer wall of the piston, and while I have shown a conical-shapedbore for the cylinder and a cylindrical-shaped piston to effect thisconstruction I do not care 'to limit myself to this specificconstruction, as this arrangement could be reversed-that is, acylindrical bore with a conical-shaped piston could be utilized andaccomplish the same results.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

- L -A rotary motor comprising a cylinder having a gradually-increasingbore, an expansible motive-fluid inlet at the smaller end and 'anexhaust-outlet at the larger end of the cylinder. a rotary shaftextending centrally in the cylinder, a rotary piston fixed to the shaft,

helical ribs on the rotary piston extending to the inner surface of thecylinder and forming therewith helical passages of gradually increasingcross-sectional area and baffle-posts on the rotary piston between theadjacent helical ribs and in the passages.

2. A rotary motor comprising a cylinder having a gradually-increasingbore, an expansible motive-fluid inlet at the smaller end and anexhaust-outlet at the larger end of the cylinder, a rotary shaftextending centrally in the cylinder, a rotary piston fixed to the shaft,

helical ribs on the rotary piston extending to the inner surface of thecylinder and forming therewith helical passages of graduallyincreasingcross-sectional area and staggered baflie-posts on the rotary pistonbetween the adjacent helical ribs and in the passages. 3. A rotary motorcomprising a cylinder having a gradually-increasing bore, an expansiblemotive-fluid inlet at the smaller end and an exhaustoutlet at the largerend of the cylinder, a rotary shaft extending centrally in the cylinder,a rotary piston fixed to the shaft. helical ribs on the rotary pistonextending to the inner surface of the cylinder and forming therewithhelical passages of gradually-increasing cross-sectional area andbaffle-posts on the rotary piston between the adjacent helical ribs andin the passages, said baffleposts having concave faces for receiving theimpingement of the motive fluid.

4. A rotary motor comprising a cylinder having a gradually-increasingbore, an expansible motive-fluid inlet at the smaller end and anexhaust-outlet at the larger end of the cylinder, a rotary shaftextending centrally in the cylinder, a rotary cylindrical piston fixedto the shaft, helical ribs on the rotary piston extending to the innersurface of the cylinder and forming therewith helical passages ofgradually-increasing cross-sectional area and tive-fluid inlet at thesmaller end and an exbetween the adjacent helical ribs and in thehaust-outlet at the larger end of the cham- 3 ber, helical ribs on thepiston extending to the inner surface of the cylinder and forming itherewith helical passages of gradually-increasing crosssectional area,and bafiie-posts on the piston between the adjacenthelical ribs and inthe passages.

6. A rotary motor comprising a cylinder, at

'ringat the smallerend ofthe cylinder, injectoropenings in the ringleading into the cylinder,

1 a motive-fluid chest adjacent to and connected rotary shaft extendingcentrally in the cylin- 1 der, a piston fixed to the shaft the outersurface of which forms with the inner surface of the cylinder an annularchamber of grad ually-increasing cross-sectional area, a mewith theinjector-openings of the nozzle-ring, a motive-fluid inlet connected tothe chest, an exhaust-outlet leading from the largerend of the cylinder,a rotary shaft extendingcentrally in the cylinder, a rotary piston fixedto the tive-tluid chest at the smaller end of the anl nular chamber, anozzle-ring interposed between the motive-fluid chest and the annularchamber, injectoropenings in the nozzle-ring, a motive-fluid inletconnected to the chest, an

exhaust-outlet leading from the larger end of the annular chamber,helical ribs on the pisi two cylinders of gradually-increasing bore tonextending to the innersurface of the cylinder and forming therewithhelical passages of gradually-increasing cross-sectional area,

shaft, helical ribs on the rotary piston extending to the inner surfaceof the cylinder and forming therewith helical passages ofgradually-increasing cross-sectional area and battle-posts on the rotarypiston between the adjacent helical ribs and in the passages.

10. A reversible rotary motor comprising and whose larger or exhaustends abut each ,other, a partition interposed between the andbafiie-posts 0n the piston between the adjapartially closingcommunication between the cent helical ribs and in the passages.

T. A rotary motor comprising a cylinder, a I

rotary shaft extending centrally in the cylinder, a piston fixed to theshaft the outer surface of which forms with the inner surface 3 of thecylinder an annular chamber of grad 5 ually-increasing cross-sectionalarea, a motive-fluid chest at the smaller end of the annular chamber, aremovable nozzle-ring interposed between the motive-fluid chest and theannularchamber, injector-openings in the nozzle-ring, a motive-fluidinlet connected to the chest, an exhaust-outlet leading from the largerend of the annular chamber, helical ribs on the piston extending to theinnersurface of the cylinder and forming therewith helical passages ofgradually-increasing crosssectional area, and baffle-posts on the pistonbetween the adjacent helical ribs and in the passages.

8. A rotary motor comprising a cylinder, a rotary shaft extendingcentrally in the cylinder, a piston fixed to the shaft the outer surfaceof which forms with the inner surface of the cylinder an annular chamberof gradually-increasing cross-sectional area, a motive-fluid chest atthe smaller end of the annular chamber, a removable nozzle-ringinterposed between the motive-fluid chest and the annular chamber,injector-openii'igs in the nozzle-ring, a motive-fluid inlet connectedto the chest, an exhaust-outlet leading from the larger end of theannular chamber, helical ribs on the piston extending to the innersurface of the cylinder and forming therewith helical passages of gradually-increasingcrosssectional area, and battle-posts on the pistonlarger or exhaust ends of the cylinders, and

ends of the cylinders, a common exhaust connected with the larger orexhaust ends of the cylinders, a motive-fluid chest at the smaller orouter end of each of the cylinders, a supply-main connected with themotive fluid, a branch pipe leading from each of the motivelluid cheststo the supply-main, a three-way valve in said supply-main andcontrolling the fluid -supply to either of said branch pipes andmotive-fluid chests, a rotaryshaft extending centrally in each of thecylinders, a piston in each of the cylinders and fixed to the rotaryshaft, the outer surfaces of the pistons forming with the inner surfacesof the cylinders two oppositely-arranged annular chambers ofgradually-increasing cross-sectional area, helical ribs on each of thepistons extending to the inner surfaces of the cylinders and formingtherewith helical passages of gradually-increasing cross-sectional areaand baffle-posts on the pistons between the helical ribs and in thepassages.

11. A reversible rotary motor comprising two cylinders ofgradually-increasing bore and whose larger or exhaust ends abut eachother, a partition interposed between the larger or exhaust ends of thecylinders, and partially closing coinniunicatitm between the ends of thecylinders, a common exhaust con nected with the larger or exhaust endsof the cylinders, a motivefiuid chest at the smaller or outer end ofeach of the cylinders, a removable nozzle-ring interposed between eachof the motive-fluid chests and the smaller end of the cylinders,injector-openingsin the nozzle-rings, a supply-main connected with themotive fluid, a branch pipe leading from each of the motive-fluid cheststo the supply-main,

a three-way valve in said supply-main and each of the pistons extendingto the inner surfaces of the cylinders and forming therewith helicalpassages of gradually-increasing crosssectional area and baffle-posts onthe pistons between the helical ribs and in the passages.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES V. KERR.

Witnesses:

WM. D. APPLEBEE, V. R. BRUCE.

